knitfigg

Update..

2006-02-21T22:29:00.000Z

I wish I could/would update this blog more often, I'm so busy these days. I'm starting my new traineeship tomorrow, wich is very exciting and had two funfilled cultural days these last days. Yesterday, I went to see the the work of Rineke Dijkstra in the stedelijk museum in Amsterdam. Her pictures are absolutely gorgeous in all their sharpness and details (and they had some work by Tord Boontje, wich I also adore for the whimsical of it) and always capture the person behind the mask/pose they are taking.

Today, there were three things on my program:
- The Dick Bruna house: a collection of all the works of the creator of Miffy. This collection is perfect for children (or for the child in grown-ups), as things are lined up to their eyesight and there are activity games.
- March of the Penguins: I really have respect for penguins now, as I saw all the hardship they had to endure to bring up their chick (the scene of a mother penguin losing her chick due to a snowblizzed was heartwrenching). I you think you have it tough, think of the penguins.
- and a lovely dinner at an asian tapas restaurant, filling my tummy with avocado sushi.
(all these things were done in the company of a good friend).

I hope everyone has had a good week as well!!

Secret pal!!

2006-01-14T17:25:00.000Z

To my dear secret pal... I'm so sorry for being a bit late with posting this questionnaire. I hope it will be to some good use for you!!

1.Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I prefer to knit with natural fibers as they have a nicer ‘feel’ to them when I knit with them. I’m also pretty happy with a mix of acrylic and natural. As to Red Heart and Lion Brand, we don’t have them here in the Netherlands, so I don’t know whether to avaid them or cuddle them to death ;)

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Nope and Nope.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have 2 tubes in wich I store my needles. I still need to make one of those fancy needlerolls for them, as the tubes are very ugy.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for about a year now and would consider my skill between beginner and intermediate.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have one at fred flare, but I canly only send it through e-mail (to secret pal, I send it to your e-mail adress!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I really like Myrrh and more earthly scents. Sadly I don’t have a bath :(

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I definetely have a sweet tooth, my favourites are really dark chocolate and peppermint, especially the combination of both.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Next to knitting, I like painting and sewing. I would also like to do some more photography, as I saw some amzing photos on blogs and such...

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have quite a diverse taste in music wich diverse from very heavy rock to jazz. Lately I have been listening a lot to Rilo Kiley, Aimee Mann, The New Pornographers and Rufus Wainwright. My stereo can’t play any mp3’s, allthough I also have a mp3-player.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
A few of my favourite colors are plum, warm-red and petrol blue, allthough I like most bold colors. Colors that I really can’t stand are pastelcolours and any variation of yellow or orange. To me, a color really has to grab you.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Sadly, I still live at my parents, allthough I would love to move out. Living with my parents does mean that I have 3 fuzzy cats, who I adore.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do wear scarves, hats and mittens, but shun away from poncho’s.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I really like the lambswool 51 from Phildar, as it comes in fantastic colors, isn’t scratchy and is quite affordable.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Fun fur and other of that fancy yarn. I prefer solid yarn, without bits.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I really don’t have none.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Right now, lacy hats as they are easy, cheap and great for bad hair days.

17. What are you knitting right now?
The lucky clover cardigan from Stitch ‘n bitch nation.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I would love to!!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I prefer straights.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Under european size 4, I like aluminium, above that I prefer bamboo and wood.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope and nope

22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me when I was little, allthough I quickly gave up then. A year ago, I knitted my first scarf. Then I bought Stich ‘n Bitch and that was the true start of my knitting!!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About four months.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I just love birds in general, and am also a sucker for mercats, cats and squirrels.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
The summer, because that means I can travel!!

26. Is there anything that you collect?
I don’t collect anything at the moment, but I’m thinking about strting a mis-matched teacup collection.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None, allthough I received a free sample from Interweave knits once and quite liked it…

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Yup, I would love the book “Unusual toys to knit and enjoy” by Jess Hutchinson and Peace Fleece needles.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to know how to knit a sock!! Have to visit dear old grans for that….

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I’m not (yet) a sockknitter. I wear a size 40 (dutch sizes), wich is 23 centimeters.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
The 30th of September.

All I want for Christmas.....

2005-12-20T20:26:00.000Z

*squeel* although it's a bit tacky, I love this little reindeer! It would be perfect for my wip wrap cardigan I'm making. Too bad I'm brokity-broke-broke...

10 + 1 things I love about Winter...

2005-12-18T16:22:00.000Z

1. Warm, wooly blankets.
2. A good cup of hot tea.
3. Seeiing the roofs of the houses sprinkled with snow when I look out of the window.
4. Peppermint Mocha coffee.
5. The twinkling lights in the christmastree.
6. The crunching sound you hear when you walk over fresh snow.
7. Thermal underwear.
8. Curling up against the heater to snooze out a bit, while listening to Rilo Kiley
9. Hot cocoa with a shot of rum.
10. Striped peppermint candy.
11. The tart smell and taste of mandarins

Unsuprisingly, I've been quite a bit housemousy the last few weeks. Just curling up to the heater while knitting away makes me happy at this time.....

Woohoo!!

2005-12-05T21:58:00.000Z

The new knitty is out! I, as a kitty addict, especially like Kate, a knitted kitty. I will probably make this from some yarn left-overs.

But first, I want to finish Lucky. I'm still on the first sleeve! *blush* I must say I'm getting faster at it now, so I will hopefully finish the sleeve soon. In the meantime, I finished my first hat! It's lacecap from Knitty, knitted up in a greenish blue, as I look ridiculous in white. No more bad hairdays for me! Finishing my first 'real' (as in more challeninging and not a rectangle) knitted item made me feel proud of myself and also more connected to this world in a weird-kind-off-way. I felt really content that evening and it truly motivates me to keep on with my other project.

Now, I also have to knit one up in red for my best friend (it's her birthday on the 10th of December). So if you don't mind I'm going to cocoon now in my warm, little nest bed. I promise I will post some pics on wednesday!!

Lucky is giving me a hard time...

2005-11-06T23:36:00.000Z

First, I had to substitute the yarn for a smoother kind, because of all the little kinks in the rowan, which totally screw up the lace pattern. Then I found out that I totally messed up the pattern, while working on a sleeve (note: I also think there's a tiny mistake in the pattern, it doesn't work out, unless you cast on 87 stitches instead of 86). I now insert lifelines on every normal knit row, which keeps me from having to rip it out totally. Hopefully, I will have some progresshots soon!!

Lucky clover wrap...

2005-10-30T12:17:00.000Z

After a long period of absence (I haven't done any exciting knitting lately, due to a very busy schoolperiod), I decided to start on the lucky clover wrap from Stitch 'n bitch nation. Seeing that it is knit on some quite tiny needles (size 3, European) and the fact that it's lacy, this will be quite a challenge. I started on the first sleeve yesterday (I hope by starting on a sleeve I will get some instant gratification) and just got to the 5th row of the lacepattern. Things look a bit wonky at the moment, but I think the blocking will sort it out. I'm using some rowan spun 4ply in the color jade for this one.....
Update: After reading some of the posts on the knit-a-long page, I found out I was doing the yarnovers all wrong!! No wonder it looked all wonky. I just frogged it and will start over again...

I will also start on lelah again. I have tried this pattern before, but messed up horribly, so I ripped it all out. As it is being knit on circular needles, It's easier to take along on trips. I'm going to Keulen (have no idea what it's called in english, it's a city in Germany) next tuesday and have a long trainjourney ahead of me, so I will take it along then. This one will be knit with Phildar Superbaby in the color chocolat....

I know where I will be on October the 14th...

2005-09-05T22:23:00.000+01:00

...in the cinema, watching Elizabethtown. I just saw the trailer and the "internet first look" on the official website and it just looks lovely. It looks like it has drama, romance, humor, quirkyness and just honest sweetness rolled in one. I will definitely have to take some tissues and a stuffed cuddle (in lack of boyfriend) with me to the cinema. Can i already sign up for the pre-order for the DVD? It even seems that Orlando has been able to notch up his acting a bit.....

As regarding cuddle, yay!! I'm swapping with Carly from Moopy & Me for one of her lovely vintage fabric kittens!!

ranty-rant...

2005-08-29T17:47:00.000+01:00

My school really drives me crazy. I have to start again next Tuesday, and I still don't know which subjects I have, when I have them, with who and what I need for them. According to school, i should have gotten all this information last week. Yeah, right!

A good thing, we have a new studentmailprogram, which allows me to keep an agenda and a things-to-do-list online. I think it will help me to keep this (final!) year organised...

dreamy and floaty

2005-08-28T17:11:00.000+01:00

I'm still a bit struggling with updating this blog regularly. If there's anyone who reads this blog regularly, please let yourself be known! It might motivate me...

So far, I had a lovely weekend, wich is good, as I have to go back to my traineeplacement tomorrow. I saw Howl's moving castle (see pic above) by Hayao Miyazaki (he also made "Spirited away") And it was just as fluffy, floaty and endearing. Another movie to add to my list of "feel good" movies...

I was perusing the digsboards at digsmagazine, looking for some nice, easy and quickfix recipes for the next week, as my parents will be away and I will be awfully busy. I did also stumble on some cleaning threads, wich, very odd, make me want to clean my room now. Better have to grab that spirit now!!!

knitting with cats...

2005-08-15T20:18:00.000+01:00

(note: the thumbs link to the whole picture)

It is possible! Allthough I think I have a very daft cat, who does not even recognize a ball of yarn if you put his pawn on it. So meet Sjimmie, one of my three furry balls, the others shall probably follow soon.

Sadly I had to frog the boobholder, as I found out that it totally did not flatter my bodyshape. Next things to be knitted are birthdaygifts for friends, including a pointy elfin hat and some slippers.
As for the pic below, here are some knitted flower barrettes, a present for a friend of mine...

...Currently on the needles...

2005-08-01T00:18:00.000+01:00

After I checked my gauge, I finally cast on the minisweater by Stefanie Japel. I decided to use some Phildar Impact #3.5 in Braise and Phildar Super Baby in Chocolat, holding 2 strands together. The Super Baby adds the benefit of:
- some wool added to the totally acrylic Braise, which makes it much nicer to knit.
- the chocolat makes the color of the Braise a bit more subdued, so it's less "in-your-face"
- It also helped me to get the right gauge.

I still have to block around 2 pairs of slippers. I'm also teaching one of my friends to knit, as she desperately wanted to be able to knit a toymouse. As I saw her fumbling with the needles, cursing along, I realized that it can be quite hard to get the knitting skills down. I'm first letting here learn how to knit and to purl, then we will step over to increasing (M1)....

..knitsy knit..

2005-07-25T16:12:00.000+01:00

As many, I learned knitting from my granny when I was little. I quickly gave up, because mysteriously, I always ended up making extra stitches, creating lopsided, triangleshaped garments which I thought I could then use as underwear (mind you, I was about 8 years old at that time).....

One year ago, I knitted my first scarf, guided by an old trusted knitting book from the same granny. It was humongous, knit on size 11 (european) needles and I gave it the endearing nickname "help-I'm-being-strangled-by-a-boa-constrictor" scarf. I never had much wear out of it, although it had cost me quite much...

A couple of months ago, I ordered the Stitch and Bitch handbook. The needles really started clicking now. I made a ribbed, raspberry-plum striped scarf and several headkerchiefs. Things that need to be finished now are 2 toymices for my cats (although one mouse has become so big, that I think I will save it for one particularly fat cat) and 2 pair of Mary Jane slippers. That old "help-I'm-being-strangled-by-a-boa-constrictor"scarf has been frogged and I'm splitting the 2-ply yarn to make it more useful.

And to make the circle round, I recently asked my gran to teach me how to knit socks. She was delighted to hear that she could learn one of her granddaughters how to knit socks....

Figg, a history

2005-07-24T17:36:00.000+01:00

Figg.....
- is a bookworm.
- loves knitting.
- is mad about her 3 furry balls a.k.a. cats.
- studies social work.
- loves the colours raspberry, brown and plum.
- still lives at her parents.
- is inspired by blogs, little critters and nature.
- hates polyester clothing.
- loves the feel of a new cotton shirt.
- and can be a bit odd.....

....figgy goodness....

2005-07-22T17:04:00.000+01:00

and we're up!!

hmmm, this htmlbusiness is trickier then I thought....